Christensen Career Night, Lundqvist Shutout Pace Rangers in 6-0 Embarassment of Capitals

Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images

The Rangers walked into Washington, D.C. a wounded group without their top offensive player in Marian Gaborik and their top defender in All-Star Marc Staal and for one night at least they did not miss either one.  New York would embarrass the Capitals for the second time this season with a 6-0 laugher that should make the Rangers feel good, but hopefully not satisfied as they have to bring this effort again on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Having Henrik Lundqvist playing in top form certainly helped the result tonight as his made 35 saves, some of the gorgeous variety, en route to his league leading eighth shutout.

The bigger worry than Gaborik being out as the Rangers have faced that before this season was how they would do without their defensive stud.  The loss of Staal meant that Ryan McDonagh would have to take on the challenge of facing Alex Ovehckin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Knuble and McDonagh did it beautifully.  The reaction of McDonagh to the assignment was the same as it has been to everything in his 22 games as an NHL player, to just play his game and show he has the strength and poise of a ten year veteran.

On the offensive side the night would belong to an unusual suspect in Erik Christensen.  There has never been a debate about the talent that Christensen possesses, but that talent is also the source of much frustration in that he fails so often to exercise it.  Tonight was one of those nights where he let the talent show as he scored a career high four points including two goals and two assists.  If Christensen did this more often, then the Rangers would not need more offense, but since he doesn’t all I could think to myself with each passing point was how it increased his trade value and Glen Sather should sell high.

New York struck first at 5:56 of the first period when Steve Eminger beat Neuvirth from the right point with the help off a Capitals deflection.  Earlier in the shift Mike Green cross-checked Derek Stepan behind the net, but no call was made.  As play continued the puck went back to the corner where Derek Stepan hit Mike Green in the head and there is going to be controversy here.  On the live look it appeared he hit him with his elbow, but I did not see that on the replay.  Regardless there is head contact and discussion of whether he will get suspended.  Check out the video and discussion here.

The Rangers did not let off the gas this time as late in the first Erik Christensen scored his first goal since returning to the lineup from his injury.  The goal itself was really a tap-in for Christensen off a beautiful saucer pass feed from Michael Sauer.  The goal was Christensen’s seventh of the season and the beginning of a huge night for the talented but inconsistent forward.

Just like the first period the Rangers struck early and then late.  Christensen was the culprit again this time with the early goal in the second period, this time on the power play on a beautiful passing play by the Rangers.  Prospal worked the puck along the boards, feed it down low to Callahan at the left side of the net and he threw a behind the back pass to Christensen on the other side to shoot into an open net.

The goal to close the period came from Derek Stepan and gave the Rangers their second on the power play.  This play was purely the work of beautiful puck movement and a shot/pass from Del Zotto that missed the net, nothing new there, but this time the bounce came to Stepan and he roofed it on a prone Neuvirth.

Third period thankfully saw more of the same with Vinny Prospal getting in on the act 6:16 in with his third of the season.  Like with all Prospal goals the celebration is equivalent to winning the Stanley Cup, but that is the enthusiasm you love about Prospal.  Christensen picked up the primary assist on the goal to give him his third point of the game.

The Rangers rubbed some salt in the wound with a goal by Brian Boyle with 33.7 seconds left in the game.  The goal was Boyle’s 20th of the season and came off a gorgeous backhand pass from that Christensen fella to give him a career high four point night.

• Stepan was the most visible forward tonight other than Christensen with his willingness to play a physical game.  We shall see if he gets disciplined for the play with Mike Green, but he plays better when he is physical.
• Michael Sauer was also phenomenal in this game as he continues to improve on an already stellar season.
• Del Zotto, Eminger and Gilroy were all solid tonight, which might give New York enough confidence to not feel the need to bring in another defender, at least not an expensive one.
• Ruslan Fedotenko would have to leave his first game back from shoulder/appendectomy caused absence with an injury to that same shoulder.

Derek Stepan vs. Mike Green, Headshot? Could Stepan Get Suspended? (Video)

Early in the first period, on a play that would result in the New York Rangers goal, Derek Stepan and Washington’s Mike Green had multiple altercations.  Early in the shift Green would cross-check Stepan behind the net, which went uncalled, and then when the puck worked back to the corner Stepan and Green would collide with Green tumbling to the ice after being contacted in the head.  So was this a headshot?  Will Stepan be subject to suspension?

Here’s the video:

Larry Brooks of the NY Post  is reporting that the NHL will review this hit by Stepan and he indicates that he expects a suspension.  When I watched the video live I thought it was an elbow to the head, but on the video it does not appear it was the elbow that contacted Green.  It does look like Stepan was expected to battle with him and clearly swings out the elbow.  I do not know if that will matter because there clearly is direct contact to the head.  

The fact that Green was coming off concussion/inner ear trauma the last few weeks and that he did not return to the game certainly works against Stepan here.  The NHL might take into consideration the cross-check which could have injured Stepan earlier in the shift, but I would not be surprised if with the heightened caution over concussions to see Brooks be right and Stepan get a punishment.

What do you think?

Full Game Recap

With Staal Out, Big Test for McDonagh; Fedotenko, Eminger In, Newbury Waived.

The Rangers received a mixed bag of news this morning in that it is great to have Ruslan Fedotenko back in the lineup tonight against the Capitals, but no offense to Feds every New York Rangers fan would rather have Marc Staal in there.  For the first time in 248 games the Rangers will take the ice tonight without #18 Marc Staal in the lineup.  Staal, who was supposed to take part in the morning skate to test out his injured left knee was unable to do so, and was ruled out of the lineup.  Any game with the loss of Marc Staal is a huge deal for the Rangers’ defense, but against Alex Ovechkin the fear of his absence is only heightened.

The Rangers will be forced to mix up their defense pairings in the absence of Staal and will bring Steve Eminger back into the lineup.  Coach John Tortorella has decided to break Ryan McDonagh and Michael Sauer apart and place McDonagh with Dan Girardi to match the Ovechkin line.  It is obviously a big challenge for McDonagh, but everything he had done to this point shows that he is up for that task.  Sauer will team with Matt Gilroy and those two have worked well together in the past.  Being with Sauer should allow Gilroy more freedom to join the rush, pinch and just be more aggressive than he has been since being paired with Del Zotto.  Eminger and Del Zotto will make up the final pairing.

With Fedotenko returning the Rangers have placed Kris Newbury on waivers because he hit the magic number to have to clear waivers before being send back to the AHL.  With Newbury being so close to the limit it only furthers the questioning of why he was the one called up for Tuesday’s game because while not a great player the Rangers are now left to risk losing him for nothing if another team claims him.

Deadline Friday New York Rangers Lunch Chat

Amidst Trade Noise Rangers GM Glen Sather Keeps Quiet And Works His Plan

The trade deadline is now just over three days away and the rumormill is on fire with what the New York Rangers might do.  Add to that fan desire and panic in overdrive both for what their team might do and what other teams have already done.  Out of the woodwork come armchair general managers who all have ideas about what Rangers GM Glen Sather should and will do before Monday's deadline.  I am guilty of it myself, at least in telling them what I want them to do, and speculating on what could happen is half the fun of the deadline, but reality is only Sather and his closest people know what is going on inside the room.  Only they know who they are talking to about which players and the cost associated with them no matter how much others outside pontificate with their "sources."

Rick Carpiniello over at Rangers Report had it exactly right yesterday when talking about how team Sather is great and playing their cards close to the vest and not having information come out publicly.   

Here’s why, and I said this in the comments the other day. When is the last time a Glen Sather trade was leaked before it happened? The Jokinen-Prust deal got out only because it was done when Kotalik caused a delay by trying to invoke his no-trade clause. And even when it got out, nobody—nobody—had Prust in the deal until it was announced.

So nobody outside his office knows what Sather is going to do, and if they say they do, they’re full of it.

As I said, the speculation is fun for all of us, but the moment someone claims they have a source on Sather side of the equation is the time where I stop believing what comes next.  Whatever is leaked in terms of specific players and/or negotiation is leaked for a reason and it is not to allow anyone meaningful access to the deals in progress.  Sather has laid out his general plans for all of us to know, and that he does not plan to pay anything except his price, but the specifics of what players he thinks fits that mold and the cost he is willing to place on them are meant to be kept in the dark.

In some sense it makes me wonder if the Bryan McCabe deal will happen at all.  I say that because the idea this deal has been speculated about so wildly at this point in connection with the Rangers.  That fact does not fit the Sather model of making a trade under the cover of darkness and only having the public find out once it is done.  The possibility for this one to play out differently is there because of the broken jaw McCabe suffered, which supposedly derailed a deal that was about to be made.  In the intervening time the media has had a chance to catch up to what would have been a surprise move then, or is all this McCabe chatter a well-designed smoke screen while Sather works behind the scenes on something completely different?

While the rumors fly about names that fans might like and ones that might make fans cringe, Sather will be working behind the scenes on whatever his plan.  The reason he has done so well in trades recently is how well he can control the message within his group and keeping the talks quiet helps to control price.  Sather could go in any number or combination of directions over these last few days, but what one knows for sure is that he is not going to get caught flat footed, he is not going to panic and he is not going to let anyone know what he is doing.  The only time we will be privy to what Sather planned on doing is when it is done.  Enjoy the speculation, and we will do our fair share of it, but realize no one really knows anything except those in the room no matter how many times they try to tell you something different.

Rumor: Rangers Close To Acquiring Bryan McCabe? Or Maybe Not?

I know it has only been going on for a week or so, but the rumors about how imminent the move of Bryan McCabe to the Rangers is are starting to drag on like Carmelo chatter.  Today, Miami Herald sportswriter George Richards on his blog, On Frozen Pond, says that the deal to make McCabe a New York Ranger is close to being finalized.  There is no mention of who or what would be going the other way in the trade. Like with all rumors they are just that until it is actually done.  McCabe still has not waived his no-movement clause and he was on the team flight to Atlanta this afternoon, which does not preclude the deal from happening, but might eliminate a little of the immediacy to the move. 

According to Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel, McCabe’s agent told him that there is nothing imminent, that Bryan is weighing his options and that he has yet to waive his no-trade clause. 

This fact that the agent says there is nothing imminent in terms of McCabe, does not mean that all the reporting and rumors about the deal being close is wrong.  The Panthers and Rangers could be close to terms on a deal to send McCabe to New York while he is in no rush to make a decision on what he wants to do.

As I have said before a large part of feelings about the trade will depend on what the cost of the move is to the Rangers.  I have speculated on what I think the cost will be and whether McCabe is worth that assumed cost.  If the deal goes down we will see what it actually cost and then be able to make a true decision on whether it looks like it will be worth it.  Until then the rumors are going to fly.

Staal Sits While Fedotenko Practices, But Both Uncertain Tomorrow; Gaborik Improving

For those expecting concrete news to come out of today’s New York Rangers practice you will be sadly disappointed as the day had more of a dump it deep in the zone and wait until tomorrow to see if they can chase it down feel to it.  There are updates for Ruslan Fedotenko, Marc Staal and Marian Gaborik to sift through though. 

In the good news department, Ruslan Fedotenko took part in practice again today, this time with some contact and battling.  Signs point to a return in the very near future, with it being possible for tomorrow night against Washington, but they will not know that for sure until tomorrow morning according to Tortorella.  During practice he skated along with Avery, Newbury and Prust.  Getting Fedotenko back would be a huge lift for the club as they are only 5-8-1 since he sprained his shoulder on January 19^th and then had his recovery sidetracked by an emergency appendectomy.  If people did not appreciate how important Fedotenko was to the forecheck while he was in there they certainly are aware of it now.

In other positive news, Jesse Spector of the Daily News reports that Marian Gaborik is said to be feeling better, but that coach Tortorella was unsure if he was symptom free.  The team ran some blood work on Gaborik to see if there was any deficiencies in the results, but the coach was not sure what they were looking for and the results had not come back yet to his knowledge.

Now that you have been built up with good news it is time for the potentially bad news of the day.  Marc Staal, who twisted his knee Tuesday against Carolina, sat out practice today, and is said to be having soreness in the knee.  The main complaint though according to Jim Cerny, is about a lack of strength that he feels in the knee.  Staal will test it out tomorrow morning to see if he can go, but Andrew Gross labeled him as “iffy” for tomorrow’s contest against Ovechkin at the Capitals.

No doubt that missing Staal in the lineup would be a huge loss for the defense core, but it might be better to sit him for a game than push him back when he is not ready to go and risk prolonging the issue.

There were a couple of playful stories relayed out by the beat writers that involved Marc Staal today.  The first was how he was getting flak from the guys in the locker room, especially Martin Biron, for not practicing today.  The other was about Staal refuses to call his mother right now and is keeping communication strictly text based while she “cools down.”

Jesse Spector passes along these quotes:

“I have not talked to my mom about it yet,” Marc said. “She’s given me a few text messages, but I haven’t spoken too her on the phone. Not until I let her calm down. That’s probably the worst conversation out of the (family).”

McIlrath Shows New York Rangers How To Defend Their Goaltender (Video)

There has been a lot of discussion this year about whether the New York Rangers should have taken offensive defenseman Cam Fowler instead of Dylan McIlrath with the 10th pick in 2010 NHL Entry Draft.  The lure of Fowler is understandable and even more intriguing with the second year struggles of Michael Del Zotto, but last night McIlrath showed why Rangers fans should be excited that Gordie Clark took him. For years there have been complaints about how we have no defensemen that stand up for their teammates or make opponents pay a price for taking runs at Henrik Lundqvist, and on this night McIlrath did both.  If he does this when he gets to New York, the current number 8 in Moose Jaw will be as beloved as Rangers number 8 Brandon Prust currently is.

While it happened at the end of the game we are going to start with McIlrath taking exception to his goalie Thomas Heemskerk getting run and it leading to a line brawl.  With less than two seconds left in the 3-0 Warriors win, Broncos forward Jordan Peddle ran Heemskerk and there was no hesitation from McIlrath to beat him for it. 

As Neate Sager of Behind the Net notes:

McIlrath likely has a suspension coming for getting an instigator penalty inside of the five-minute mark of the third period, but his Warriors are not going to stand for someone running their goalie.

Think the Rangers could use some of that mentality?  I certainly do.  Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh have added that to an extent this year, but it is still far too little and the statement is far too weak to make any opponents think twice about running their franchise netminder.  A statement like this could certainly change that.  Now I do not want McIlrath to be a Dale Purninton and feel he has to fight all the time, especially if he is supposed to be a top defender because his value is on the ice.  Now that I am on record with that, I have absolutely no problem if he drops them for a purpose and this certainly had one.

As I alluded to earlier, this was not his only “incident” on the evening.  McIlrath would get his night going early in the first period as Swift Current Broncos forward Andy Blanke was looking for someone to fight and looking to entice Dylan’s teammate to going, but he stepped in instead.  During the bout McIlrath destroyed Blanke with lefts early, then some rights before Blanke would land a couple good shots.

For more on this and everything else Rangers prospect related head over to The Prospect Park.

Rumor: Cost For Rangers To Rent Brad Richards Astronomical/Comical

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

There is no surprise that when the New York Rangers would call Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk when his team began to slide down the standings to see what the cost of obtaining his star center Brad Richards would be.  The Rangers have a need for a first line center to play with Marian Gaborik and hopefully light the fire under his “underperforming season.”  It is somewhat surprising that the call was still made considering Richards is currently out with a concussion, but he is said to be on the mend and could return soon.  What is most surprising though is the price that Nieuwendyk reportedly told Rangers GM Glen Sather he wanted New York to pay for the ability to rent Richards.

According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post the cost Nieuwendyk quoted Sather on Tuesday was Marc Staal, Brandon Dubinsky and Derek Stepan.  Say what?  If that is true, which I find hard to believe because it is just so ludicrous to have the gall to ask for that level of a package for a rental, then I want Nieuewendyk checked for post-concussion symptoms. 

I have been one who has always said that Dallas was going to need a big package to deal Richards, but that is ridiculous.  Marc Staal, a 23-year-old All-Star defenseman who, as I wrote yesterday, is New York’s most irreplaceable player.  Brandon Dubinsky, a 24-year-old forward who has been not only the team’s leading scorer, but was the best player on the club for long stretches.  Derek Stepan, a 20-year-old rookie forward who has adapted quicker to the NHL than most could have expected and been a bigger impact as a rookie than any could have hoped.

Asking for any one of those three guys in a package for Richards is something I would have understood as a rational point to start a negotiation, but asking for all three of them in the same deal for a guy who has a concussion, is a rental player, and still has yet to waive his no-move clause to say he would come let alone stay in New York is basically standup comedy.  Either the reporting or sourcing was bad on this information or Nieuwendyk wanted to make it crystal clear that he had no actual intention of dealing Richards by coming out with a ludicrous demand. 

As the deadline gets closer, if the Stars continue to fall down the standings and Richards makes it clear he will test the free agent market the pressure on Nieuwendyk to get something for him will increase, but when you are starting from such a reportedly ridiculous place, having the price come down does not mean it will ever land on reasonable.  I personally have trouble believing that a demand like this can be true because of how utterly outrageous it is, but maybe I am giving Nieuwendyk too much credit.  Maybe I just do not want to think that one GM would insult another GM's intelligence in such an egregious fashion.

In the end, regardless of the price the Rangers should just wait until the summer if they really want Richards and see what the landscape looks like then.  There is no reason to trade any assets from the future for a guy who currently has a concussion and has given every indication that he plans on hitting the free agent market this summer.

Video: Ryan O'Byrne Face Gashed By Taylor Hall Skate

Players being cut by skates in the NHL luckily are a rare occurrence, but Wednesday's incident when Edmonton Oiler's forward Taylor Hall's skate gashed Colorado Avalanche defender Ryan O'Byrne showed just how much damage can be done.

The play happened early in the first period with the puck behind the Colorado net.  Hall was between Matt Duchene and O'Byrne and in attempting to jump over there sticks and did not make it.  Hall would lose his balance and during his fall to the ice his feet came up with his right skate cutting O'Byrne in the face.  Somehow O'Byrne managed to finish his shift and then skate off under his own power and he was escorted to the locker room for treatment, but then taken to a nearby hospital.  No official word on the number of stitches it took to close the lacerations to his face.